Regional

10:52 am

Mon April 5, 2010

Las Cruces Hosts Trauma Group, But Has No Level 1 Trauma Hospital

Las Cruces – The national trauma hospital association calls Las Cruces home, but the southern New Mexico city itself has no trauma center.

The president of the Trauma Center Association of America, registered nurse Connie Potter, says she believes Las Cruces trauma patients with less-serious injuries are being sent unnecessarily to a Level 1 trauma facility in nearby El Paso, Texas, University Medical Center.

Officials at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces declined to respond to Potter's specific complaints, but said in an e-mail the region was fortunate to have access to University Medical Center.

They said trauma patients are best served when they're treated at a location with the resources to provide the care.